Controls, Instruments
89
The warning light in the instrument panel comes
on when the ignition is first turned on and remains
on briefly as a bulb check. If the light does not
come on, have the bulb replaced promptly.
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer come on and remain on while
driving, it suggests:
– a potential engine control problem and the
need for system service or
– an improperly fastened tank cap or
– refuelling with engine running.
Although the vehicle is usually driveable and will
not require towing, see your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
Caution!
If the Check engine light in the instrument
panel is flashing, severe catalytic converter
damage and power loss will soon occur.
Prolonged driving with the Check engine light
on could cause damage to the emission con-
trol system. It also could affect fuel economy
and driveability.
fHave the fault remedied at the nearest author-ized Porsche dealer immediately. The central warning light on the instrument panel
lights up if there are warning messages in the
INFO menu.
The messages can be called in the on-board
computer INFO menu:
fPlease observe the chapter “INFO WARNING
MESSAGES” on Page 94.
The warning light on the instrument panel lights
up:
– if the handbrake is on,
– if the brake fluid level is low,
– if the brake pads have reached the wear limit,
– if the brake circuit division is defective.
Additionally, a warning is displayed by the on-
board computer.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNINGS ON
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-
BOARD COMPUTER” on Page 105.
Check Engine
Warning Light
Central warning light
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada
114
Controls, Instruments
Automatic Headlight Beam
Adjustment Vehicles with Bi-Xenon headlights feature
automatic headlight beam adjustment.
When the ignition is switched on, the level of the
headlight beam automatically changes in accord-
ance with the vehicle load.
The level of the headlight beam is automatically
kept constant during acceleration and braking. Checking operation 1. Switch the low beam on.
2. Insert ignition key and switch ignition on.
The light beam first dips all the way down and
is then adapted to the vehicle load.
If this test item is not met, the headlight beam
adjustment system must be checked by an author-
ized Porsche dealer.
Turn Signal / Headlight Dimmer /
Parking light / Flasher Lever Turn signals, low beam and high beam are ready
for operation when the ignition is on.
1 – Turn signal left
2 – Turn signal right
Push the lever to the upper or lower pressure
point – turn signals flash three times
3 – High beam
4 – Headlight flasher
Lever in center position – Low beam
When high beam and headlight flasher are select-
ed, the blue indicator light in the tachometer is lit. The turn signal lever turns off automatically when
the steering wheel is straightened out after com-
pleting a turn.
Lane changer fTo indicate your intention when changing lanes
on the freeway, slightly lift or depress the lever
to the resistance point.
The lever will return to the OFF position when
released.
fIf the frequency of the display becomes notice-
able faster, check the operation of the turn sig-
nal bulbs. Headlight flasher (With ignition on or off)
fTo flash the headlights to oncomming motor-
ists, slightly pull the lever toward the steering
wheel and then release it.
The blue indicator light in the tachometer will
go on/off as you pull/release the lever. Parking lightThe parking light can only be switched on when
the ignition is switched off.
fMove the lever up or down to switch on the
right or left parking light.
Controls, Instruments
115
Windshield Wiper / Washer Lever
Warning!
Danger of injury when the windshield wipers
operate unintentionally.
Risk of damage to the windshield and wiper
system.
fAvoid running the wiper blades over a dry wind-
shield to prevent scratching the glass. Spray
washer fluid on the windshield first.
A scratched windshield will reduce visibility.
fAlways loosen wiper blades from frozen glass
before operating wipers to prevent damage to
the wiper motor or blades. fAlways switch off windshield wipers in car
wash to prevent them wiping unintentionally
(intermittent or sensor operation).
fAlways switch off windshield wipers before
cleaning the windshield to avoid unintentional
operation (intermittent or sensor operation).
fDo not operate the headlight washer in car
washes.
fDo not operate headlight washer when it is
frozen.
Front wiper and headlight washer system0 – Windshield wipers off
1 – Rain sensor operation for front
windshield wipers
fMove wiper lever upwards to the first click.
Please observe the chapter “RAIN SENSOR” on
Page 117.
2 – Windshield wipers slow
fMove wiper lever upwards to the second click.
3 – Windshield wipers fast
fMove wiper lever upwards to the third click.
4 – Front windshield wiper – one-touch oper-
ation:
fMove wiper lever downwards. The front wind-
shield wipers wipe once.5 – Windshield wipers and washer system:
fPull wiper lever towards the steering wheel.
The washer system sprays and wipes while the
lever is pulled towards the steering wheel.
When the wiper lever is released, a few drying
wipes are executed.
A - Headlight washer (Vehicles with Bi-Xenon
headlights):
The washer sprays only while low beam or high
beam is switched on.
fBriefly push button A to operate headlight
washer system.
fIf heavily soiled, repeat wash.
The headlight washer system automatically sprays
once for every ten times the front windshield
washer system is operated.
Note
The windshield washer nozzles are heated
when the ignition is on, as a precaution against
freezing.
Controls, Instruments
119
Decelerating Option 1
fPull operating lever towards the steering wheel
(position 2) until the desired speed is reached.
The speed reached is maintained and stored
when the lever is released.
Option 2
fBriefly move lever towards the steering wheel
(position 2) (a maximum of 10 times).
The speed is reduced by 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
each time.
Vehicles with Tiptronic
Additional downshifts are carried out to improve
deceleration (especially when driving downhill).
Interrupting automatic speed control
operation fPull operating lever downwards briefly
(position 3) or
fOperate brake or clutch pedal or
fSwitch Tiptronic transmission to selector lever
position N.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIPTRONIC S” on
Page 145.
The speed driven before the interruption remains
stored in the memory.
Automatic speed control operation is
interrupted automatically:
– If the set vehicle speed is exceeded by more
than approx. 16 mph (25 km/h) for longer than
20 seconds.
– If the actual vehicle speed falls to approx.
6 mph (10 km/h) below the set vehicle speed
for longer than 5 seconds (upward slopes).
– For PSM control operations.
Resuming the stored speed fBriefly push operating lever upwards
(position4).
The speed control accelerates/decelerates
the vehicle to the stored speed.
The stored speed should only be recalled when
traffic conditions and the road surface so permit.Switching automatic speed control
readiness off fPress button A on the automatic speed control
lever.
The green readiness light in the speedometer
goes off.
When the vehicle is parked and the ignition
switched off, the memory is cleared.
Important note
On upward or downward slopes, the set speed
cannot always be maintained by the automatic
speed control.
To obtain sufficient engine braking or a better en-
gine-speed range, therefore, you have to select a
lower gear.
132
Controls, Instruments
Luggage Compartment Access covers(on vehicles with DVD navigation or CD changer)
Opening
fGrasp access cover A or B at the handle and
open.
The drive for DVD navigation and the CD changer
can be found behind the access cover B.
Caution!
Risk of damage.
fDo not store any heavy, damp or heat-sensitive objects behind the access covers.
Tool boxOpening
fUnlock turn-locks C.
fOpen tool box and place it on the floor of the
luggage compartment.
E- Adapter for security wheel bolts
F- Tire filling compressor
G-Towing hook
H-Tool kit
I-Tire sealantClosing
fInsert tool box into the guide pegs in the
luggage compartment floor.
fClose tool box and lock the turn-locks C.
Shifting Gears
147
Selector Lever PositionsP – Parking lockfEngage parking lock only when vehicle is sta-
tionary.
fEngage parking lock after applying the hand-
brake and release it before releasing the hand-
brake.
The ignition key can be withdrawn only in selec-
tor lever position P.R – Reverse gearfSelect only if car is stationary and the brake is
applied.N – NeutralSelector lever position N must be selected for
towing or in car washes, for example.
fOnly select the desired position for moving off
(D, M or R) when the engine is idling and the
brake pedal is depressed.
D - Automatic selection modeSelect position D for “normal” driving. The gears
are shifted automatically according to the acceler-
ator position and speed.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and on
the resistance (e.g. uphill), the gear-changing
points are shifted towards higher or lower engine-
speed ranges.
The accelerator position, driving speed, engine
speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration and
the road profile all have an influence on the gear-
changing characteristic.
Unwanted upward shifts, e.g. before bends, are
prevented by swiftly releasing the accelerator ped-
al.
Depending on lateral acceleration, upward chang-
es on bends are not made until the engine-speed
limit is reached.
Under braking, and depending on the amount of
deceleration, the Tiptronic changes down earlier.
For subsequent cornering, the right gear is en-
gaged when pressure is applied to the brakes be-
fore the bend. The bend is taken in the right gear,
and when you accelerate out of the bend you do
not have to shift down.Sport mode switched on
fPlease observe the chapter “SPORT MODE” on
Page 64.
If the Sport mode program is switched on, Tiptron-
ic switches to a sporty gear-changing map and
shortens the shifting periods.
Deceleration downshifts are commenced earlier.
Downshifts are already carried out in the case of
slight decelerations, even at higher engine
speeds.
Driving off
In 2nd gear, the vehicle moves off with the throt-
tle only slightly open.
Move off in 1st gear with the throttle open wider
or when the engine is cold.
150
Shifting Gears
StoppingfFor a brief stop (e.g. at a traffic light), leave the
selector lever in drive position and hold the ve-
hicle with the brake pedal.
fFor a longer stop with the engine running, se-
lect position N (neutral) and hold vehicle in po-
sition with the foot brake.
Select lever position D only when the foot
brake pedal is depressed.
fDo not hold the car on a slope using the
accelerator. Use the brake pedal or the hand-
brake instead.
fBefore leaving the vehicle, always apply the
handbrake and move the selector lever to po-
sition P.
ParkingfGo easy on the accelerator!
fWhen parking or maneuvering in a small
space, control the speed by careful use of the
footbrake.Driving in winterIn wintry road conditions it is advisable to take
steep inclines in manual mode. This prevents the
occurrence of gear changes that could cause
wheelspin.Tow-starting, towingfPlease observe the chapter “TOWING” on
Page 259.Reduced driving programA transmission fault is indicated by the following
symptoms:
–The 4th gear display on the instrument clus-
ter flashes.
– The warning “Tiptronic emergency run” ap-
pears on the on-board computer.
– The transmission no longer shifts.
Warning!
Reverse gear lock monitoring is disabled in
the emergency running program.
Damage to the vehicle may result as well as
loss of control, if the vehicle is moving for-
ward fast enough to cause rear wheel lockup.
fDo not shift into R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Proceed as follows in the event of a transmission
fault:
1. Stop in a safe place.
2. Move selector lever to position P, switch the ig-
nition off and wait for 10 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
2nd gear in selector position D and reverse
gear R are now available.
4. Have the fault seen to immediately at an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
158
Mobile Roofs If the convertible top does not lock in the
windshield frame
fOpen convertible top again, start the engine
and close the convertible top again using the
rocker switch.
Assist with the closing process by grasping the
convertible top at the handhold and pulling it
toward the windshield frame (arrow).
Messages in on-board computerIf the engine compartment lid is open when acti-
vating the convertible top, a message appears in
the on-board computer. The convertible top can-
not be opened.
fClose engine compartment lid.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNINGS ON
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-
BOARD COMPUTER” on Page 105.
Emergency operation
of the convertible top fBefore performing emergency operation,
please check:
Was the ignition switched on and was the en-
gine compartment lid closed during operation
of the convertible top with the rocker switch?
Are electrical fuses defective?
Please observe the chapter “ELECTRICAL SYS-
TEM” on Page 232.
Warning!
There is danger of injury during emergency
operation.
There is danger of crushing or trapping body
parts at all movable convertible top parts
which could cause serious personal injury.
fTake great care when performing emergency
operation.
fDo not operate the convertible top during and after emergency operation.
Before emergency operation
fRemove the ignition key so that the convertible
top is not operated unintentionally.
fTake screwdriver out of the tool kit.
fFold the rear seat backrests forward.
Rear lid
Convertible top status